Wordless Wednesday- August 1

Below are some photos of the kids swimming (yay!  I found modest suits at Lands' End that they all really like) and of Kiddo #1 flying some of his aircraft with his RC club (he is really good!)  :-) (I also included a great cloud and moon shot I got while kiddo was flying)

Linking up with: Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy ,  Living Well Wednesdays, NOBH and Favorite Things

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- July 31

Time for another week of sharing recipes!  :-)  I always look forward to seeing (and trying!) them. 

This week, I am sharing my mom's (it was my grandmother's before her) recipe for homemade gravy (aka tomato sauce).  We jar the tomatoes every year (it is almost that time, as you can see by the empty jars).

You could easily cut this recipe in half, as this yields enough to eat it twice in a week.

2 quart jars of tomatoes
2 cans of tomato paste
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tbls. minced onion
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 tbls. olive oil
handful of grated pecorini romano cheese

Empty jars and about 1/2-3/4 jar of water each into a large pot.  Add cans of tomato paste, filling each with water and adding into the pot.  Add all other ingredients except cheese.  Stir.  Turn on burner to medium high, stirring often.  Once it reaches a rolling boil, lower the burner, cover and stir every 10-15 minutes.  The longer you do this, the thicker your gravy/sauce will be.  We do it for at least an hour.  If you have frozen (but cooked) meatballs (which we also make from scratch and I shared last month), add them in at this point and they will not only defrost, but they will add the meat flavor, as well.  Add the cheese the last time you stir, so it will have time to melt in.

Enjoy!  There is nothing like it, truly!  :-)

Now it's your turn!




Linking up with: Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows, Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday, NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things and Modest Mom

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up July 27

Wow, the last week of July is gone! 

On Monday, Kiddo 1, 2, hubby and I went to a Phillies game.  It was a comedy of errors to get there (late trains, having to get off of a subway train that broke down), but we finally did.  It was a great come from behind win for our team and we had a really good time.

I also took some beautiful pictures of the sunset that I posted in my Wordless Wednesday post.  Here is one of my favorites.

On Monday, I also posted about our little garden.  We are starting to have vegetables now, and it is very exciting for us, as we started all of the plants from seeds. 

Tuesday, after our very late baseball night, was a lazy-hazy kind of summer day with swimming for the kiddos, and trying to conquer Mt. Washmore for me.  :-)  Don't know if I'll ever reach the peak, lol.
While I was making that trek, I had a little help from Mittens who wanted to steal a sock.

I also posted my "Try a New Recipe Tuesday" linkup.  I shared my Nutella Muffins recipe.  There were lots of great recipes shared this week.

Thursday was haircuts for the boys and sewing class for Kiddo #4.  She is making her own doll!  It amazes me how much she has learned and how beautiful her projects are becoming.  When we were in Williamsburg last year, we bought her a book that had patterns for old-fashioned dolls and clothing.  She finished the doll last week and made her blouse this week.  Next week comes the skirt.  I can't wait to see it.  :-)

Thursday was also my parents' kittens' first birthday.  We bought them a toy that they just loved.

I shared more pictures of them here, for my Thankful Thursday post.

Looking forward to this weekend.  Kiddo #1 will be flying RC aircraft in his club's exhibition on Sunday.  I will be sure to take lots of pics.  :-)  Hope everyone has a great weekend, as well! 


What I'm reading: "I Surrender: Thoughts on making Christ the center of your daily life," and lots of canning recipes. :-)

What I'm praying for: our country, members of our armed forces, for our religious and conscience freedoms, those who are sick or suffering.....

A quote or photo to share:  "I realize that I am unable, unworthy and incapable of anything, but if you (Lord) wish it, you can make me do marvelous things... I no longer have anything of my own, I am entirely yours, and yours in the way that you love best..."--St. Bartholomea Capitanio

Do your children like Perler Beads?  Kiddo #4 has literally made dozens of them.  This is one that she made for one of her brothers of a football and goalpost.  Thought it was really cute and clever.  :-)

Linking up with Create with Joy, Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-Up.

Thankful Thursday- July 26

Animals.  They can bring such joy and they love unconditionally.  :-)

My parents got two kittens at Christmas.  Smokey and Mittens celebrate their first birthday today. (we will be having a little party for them later on tonight-- I'll post pics tomorrow  :-))  They have overcome some very serious health issues and are very loving, sweet kitties.  I am thankful for them today. :-)

Smokey (left) is always trying to take care of his sister.

Mittens says that there is just too much sun in her eyes.  :-)

and has never met a box she didn't like :-)

Smokey is definitely a very loving lap cat.  :-)

Smokey

Linking up with Red Oak Lane, Raising Mighty Arrows, NOBH and A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

Wordless Wednesday- July 25

Here are a couple of pics from the Phillies game Monday night.  As soon as I saw them, I knew I wanted to share.  :-)

Linking up with Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy , What is a Mom, Living Well Wednesdays, A Mother's Heritage and NOBH and Favorite Things

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- July 24

A few weeks back, a recipe was linked up here for Nutella Muffins.  They were so delicious!  Thanks so much to Alexandra, from Talking Dollars and Cents for sharing the recipe!  My kids just love it and ask me everyday when I'm making more of them!  :-)

1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup oil
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
Nutella

for the coating:
1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  In large bowl, combine eggs, oil, milk, sugar and vanilla.  In separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and cinnamon.  Combine ingredients.  Fill baking cups 1/2 full, add a tablespoon of nutella then add batter until 3/4 full.  Bake for 20 minutes.  While muffins are still warm, melt butter in small bowl in another bowl combine sugar and cinnamon.  Dip muffins in butter then dip/roll in cinnamon sugar.  Yummy!  :-)

I don't have pics of the kiddos making them since they were enjoying the pool while I was baking them, lol!  :-)

I have had a lot of requests for my mom's homemade gravy (a.k.a. sauce) recipe.  I will share that next week.  We jar tomatoes every year and then use the jars each Sunday for our pasta and meatball dinners.

Now, it's your turn!

I'm linking up with: Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows, Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday, NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things and Modest Mom

Make Life Meaningful Monday- July 23

Many have asked for updates on our little garden.  It is coming along quite nicely.  It has been a wonderful learning experience for both the kiddos and myself, as we started every plant from a seed back in February and nurtured them with much care for months.  My husband did an amazing job getting all of our "seedlings" from our indoor pots into the garden and makes sure it is weeded and watered each day.

Not only are we getting lessons in everything having to do with gardening, the necessary tools, proper amounts of water, what organic means, etc., but we are also getting important lessons in patience.  It has been a long wait to be able to see the "fruits" of our labor, but it is finally starting to take place.

We have picked cucumbers

carrots

and basil so far

and are anxiously awaiting the tomatoes, peppers, peas and eggplant.

We also have been continuing to can corn and carrots.  We are hoping to include other veggies this week in our canning adventure. 

I will keep everyone posted!  :-)

Linking up with Modest Monday, On, in and around Mondays and Inspire Me Monday in addition to Wisdom Wednesday and Living Well Wednesday

Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-Up July 20

The weeks are just flying by!  Can't believe it's Friday already.  :-)

It was another fun and activity-filled week.  Please forgive me if you have written me an email and I haven't responded.  I literally have thousands of unread email.  Had to delete over 1000 just tonight.  Family life takes precedence over computer, as I'm sure you understand; and I haven't had as much online time of late.  :-)

Monday was music lessons for all of the kiddos.  They are doing well with their instruments (piano for Kiddos # 2, 3, and 4, guitar for Kiddo #1)

I also posted about welcoming Kiddo #2 home from Cooperstown, the baseball cake that was made for him and our continuing adventures with canning.  You can read all about it and see the rest of the photos here.

On Tuesday, we had a surprise morning visit from my in-laws followed by an afternoon with some library time and a great water-ice treat and swim.  I posted about it here.

I also posted my weekly recipe linkup.  This week, there are 27 recipes shared so far!  I shared my Tater Tot Casserole recipe.  You can see it and the others here.

Wednesday was a day filled with fun at home- whether that be making powerpoints on Kiddo #4's new library books or Kiddo #1's model airplane building.  Kiddo #2 enjoyed math videos from "Khan Academy" and Kiddo #3 was creating scenarios in Zoo Tycoon 2.

Thursday, we headed to 'Homegrown,' the 90-acre homeschool oasis that I have mentioned in past posts for a Kefir-water class.  Kiddos 1 and 2 got to make their own and we all enjoyed a picnic lunch, a nice walk and some apples that the kiddos picked from the grove.  Kiddo #4 also had her sewing class and Kiddo #1 attended his Civil Air Patrol.  Phew.  Quite a busy day.

So, I think (and hope) Friday will be low-key, fun day at home.  Who knows?  :-)

What I'm reading: "I Surrender: Thoughts on making Christ the center of your daily life," and lots of canning recipes.  :-)

What I'm praying for: those who are ill, suffering or unemployed, our military, and our nation...

A Quote or Photo to share:  "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever; That a revolution of the wheel of fortune, a change of situation, is among possible events; that it may become probable by Supernatural influence! The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in that event."-- Thomas Jefferson

A friend's daughter took this photo of the kiddos and I while walking between the apple and pear trees at Homegrown. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed weekend!  :-)


Linking up with:  Create with Joy, Homeschool Mother's Journal and Weekly Wrap-Up.

Wordless Wednesday- July 18

On a very hot afternoon yesterday, it just seemed right to spend some time in the library followed by a water-ice treat. (soft-serve and pretzel for the kiddos who didn't want water-ice.  I surely enjoyed some cold water-ice and the flavor I chose was even sugar-free!)  :-)  They ended the afternoon with a dip in the pool.

Linking up with  Judy H-J's Thoughts, Mama to 4 Blessings, Create with Joy , What is a Mom, Living Well Wednesdays, A Mother's Heritage and NOBH and Favorite Things.

Try a New Recipe Tuesday- July 17

I hope everyone is doing well, keeping cool (we are having yet another heat wave here in PA) and ready for another week of delicious recipes! 

This week I am sharing my recipe for Tater Tot Casserole.  It is a relatively easy and quick recipe that the kids enjoy helping to make.

Tater Tot Casserole
1-2 pounds hamburger meat, browned and seasoned to taste
1 pkg. dry onion soup mix
20 oz. frozen mixed veggies
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 lb. bag of tater tots

Grease 9 x 13" pan.  Spread ground meat.  Sprinkle soup mix.  Spread veggies and soup.  End with tater tots.  Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2-2 hours.  Enjoy!  :-)

Now, it's your turn!  :-)


Linking up with: Kids in the Kitchen, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt my Tummy Tuesday, Domestically Divine Tuesday, Raising Mighty Arrows, Addicted to Recipes, Homemaking Wednesdays, Living Well Wednesday, NOBH, Judy H-J's Thoughts, Wisdom Wednesday , Favorite Things and Modest Mom